Graphic Update

 Attack occurred just north of UMass Campus Center

I have never posted a warning about public documents published over the past twenty years, so this will be a first: The "Statement of Facts" filed (over a month after the incident) in Eastern Hampshire District Court by UMPD in the UMass alleged rape that occurred on September 2 -- although it was hushed up for almost two months -- is both graphic and depressing.

Be forewarned

   UMass Alleged Rape

Patrick Durocher is expected to be indicted for the crime of rape and his case will then be bumped from Eastern Hampshire District Court up to Superior Court. 

Staggering DUI Disposition

 Daniel Dodman crash Triangle Street 6/20/13 Not far from Amherst High School

Many of you will remember Daniel S. Dodman my June 20 DUI Dishonor Role winner.  He's the kid who drove his Volvo off busy Triangle Street after sideswiping a telephone pole and then tried to surf a row of boulders.  He abandoned his damaged vehicle and sprinted north. 

Once captured he failed every aspect of the FSTs and blew a .16 BAC -- twice the legal limit.

The crash drew the immediate attention of Amherst police of course, but also tied up AFD since the damaged vehicle was leaking hazardous fluids. 

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Tuesday Judge John Payne heard pretty much an admission of guilt and plea for mercy from Dodman and his attorney.  His mother was also in court, and the Judge heard about his successful older siblings.   A DUI conviction on his record would dramatically reduce the likelihood of his ever matching their success in life.

   Disturbing DUI

The prosecution was not overly moved, citing his fleeing the scene, struggling with police and also mentioned  how he emptied a toilet with his bare hands when finally put in a cell, weirding out one of the officers.

UMass suspended Dodman for one year but he will restart his senior year this coming spring.  And he is getting professional help from an Amherst therapist.  

The Judge was convinced (by the defense).  Out of the six counts filed against him he dismissed three (Resisting Arrest, Leaving Scene of Accident, Marked Lanes Violation) and the most important ones -- DUI and Negligent Operation -- he continued for a year without a finding.

He was also found  "responsible" for "open container of alcohol" (whisky) in an automobile, but the charge was simply filed for one year.

Dodman will lose his drivers license for 45 days, be on probation for a year, pay court costs and continue with his therapy.

Maybe he has learned a harsh lesson.  Maybe.  If not, the next time he could die -- or worse, one of those innocent teen-age bystanders you see below.

 

Daniel Dodman's rolling weapon disarmed (note teenagers in close proximity)

Fire Glendale Road

 AFD Assistant Chief Stromgren directing the attack

214 Glendale Road, South Amherst

Amherst Fire Department knocked down a structure fire at 214 Glendale Road South Amherst in about a half-hour this cold morning, confining the major damage to a family room addition at the rear of the house, where the fire originated, and roof.  There were no injuries.

Assistant Chief Lindsay Stromgren was on the scene directing the efforts of two original responding engines and an ambulance, that were quickly supplemented with many more pieces of heavy apparatus.

AFD Incident Report

Anxious moments until firefighters confirmed nobody was in the house

Amherst police were first on the scene reporting smoke and fire on the back porch which quickly spread to the attached one family ranch.  Animal control officer Carol Hepburn also responded but no word if there were any pets impacted. 

High pressure hose getting the job done

 

AFD Engine 2 (Quint) on scene

Note large natural gas liquid propane tank bottom left, near where fire started.  Yikes!

Assistant Chief Don McKay (center) also on scene

AFD Chaplain Bruce Arbour (left) on scene

Pine Street Stabbing

 66 Pine Street

Accused slasher Noah Kelly Pfister made a brief appearance this morning in Eastern Hampshire District Court before Judge John M.Payne Jr.,  and by way of his attorney Thomas Whitney entered a plea of "not guilty" to the charge of "assault with a dangerous weapon."

He remained seated the entire time, letting his attorney do all the talking.  Two Amherst Police detectives sat close by.

The case was continued to this Friday at 11:00 AM to give the prosecution time to coordinate the testimony of three witnesses -- the victim (Henry Lancaster-Goguen), an Amherst police officer, and one bystander present that night.

The 58-A hearing is a "Motion for Pre-Trial Detention" (under MGL 276) made by the prosecution to declare Mr. Pfister "dangerous" and should be held in jail until trial.  Until then he remains in police custody and Mr. Pfister was escorted back to jail by Detective Tina Knightly. 

Defense Attorney Whitney told the Judge he would be calling two witnesses present that night. In addition he requested from the prosecution copies of photos and videos taken during the investigation and audio of the 911 call.

 Reading between the lines of the "Statement of Facts," safe bet the defense will be "self defense."

   Pine Street Stabbing

Party House of the Weekend

 902 East Pleasant Street, North Amherst

So as I mentioned last week when the house a couple doors down made my pernicious Party House list, these neighborhood single-family homes were actually built for families to live in, and now many have been converted to student housing.

While these particular perps did not throw bottles at police officers they were hardly cooperative when officers arrived after someone in the neighborhood complained about the noise and foot traffic.

All four responsible tenants were issued both noise and nuisance house tickets amounting to $600 in fines.  Interestingly if they had been arrested they would have appeared before Judge Payne yesterday, and he routinely fails to enforce both tickets, allowing the matter to be settled for just $300. 

Slasher Weekend

 A 15" double-edged blade can ruin your entire evening

Maybe it was the full moon, or the unseasonably warm weather or -- more likely -- too much alcohol, as this past weekend turned a tad violent with Amherst Police Department (and AFD) dealing with two separate dangerous weapon assaults.

The Pine Street incident early Saturday morning where a UMass student was stabbed multiple times by Noah Kelly Pfister, 24, who was arrested when he turned himself in at APD headquarters this afternoon.

And on Sunday a little after 10:00 PM at Village Park Apartments, adjacent to UMass, a couple of gentlemen got into a disagreement and one, Russell St. Andre, age 50, used a sword cane to settle it.

He must have grown up on James Bond movies.

   Sword Cane assault

Party House from the Past

621 East Pleasant Street, formerly known as Babetown, early November

Just to show our Building Department means business when issuing tickets for zoning violations, aka slovenly behavior, I give you this morning's proceeding in Eastern Hampshire District Court where Building Commissioner Rob Morra put in an appearance to follow up on tickets written to 621 East Pleasant Street for, among other things, cars parked on the lawn rather than in the driveway.

My more ardent readers -- who especially like to read the comments -- will remember 621 East Pleasant was the household that was going to file suit against me for shining a light on their not so neighborly behavior.

The owner of the house, Robert Bonsall, failed to appear this morning in Civil Court; and if he does not appear in Criminal Court on 12/20 to answer the charge he will be arrested.  Merry Christmas.